Letter: Give a salute to our real heroes

Saturday

May 26, 2012 at 12:01 AMMay 26, 2012 at 12:29 AM

Late Tuesday evening, I was privileged to be in a room with real heroes. They were not athletes, entertainers, politicians or business leaders or any other group we’ve come to idolize — they were the real thing.

Late Tuesday evening, I was privileged to be in a room with real heroes. They were not athletes, entertainers, politicians or business leaders or any other group we’ve come to idolize — they were the real thing.

When the term “role model” came to be, these seven dozen heroes never thought of themselves as such. They were quietly going about being parents, educators, some craftsmen and perhaps doctors or lawyers. They moved among us unrecognized as anything but friends, neighbors or acquaintances. But they were indeed heroes.

As young men in their prime, they left their hometown — some for the very first time — and were put on ships headed to places they’d never heard of — Guadalcanal or Normandy, Seoul or the Chosin Reservoir — where every day they faced death or fates worse than death. They knew they were not all coming back and most knew friends who didn’t.

Tuesday, these heroes took part in a Honor Flight as they boarded a plane before dawn and flew from Springfield to Washington, D.C., where they visited memorials to their service and sacrifice. Almost all in their 80s and a few dozen of them in wheelchairs, these heroes put out another heroic effort just to make this trip that would tax any person half their age.

Why? Not for personal gratification, because that’s probably not their style, but to honor their country and their buddies once again.

Hundreds of cheering friends and relatives, most decked out in red, white and blue, lined both sides of the terminal halls, standing five and sox deep at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport Tuesday night with flags and signs to welcome home our heroes. Many in the crowd were moved to tears as these veterans, some of two wars, honored us with their presence and shook our hands as they proudly passed by.

So when you see Sam or Fred or Don or Frank standing a little taller these days, give ’em a little salute — they’ve earned it and much more than we can ever repay.

— Dennis Kelly, Rochester

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Information

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The State Journal-Register ~ Street address: One Copley Plaza (corner of Ninth Street and Capitol Avenue), Springfield, ILMailing address: The State Journal-Register, P.O. Box 219, Springfield, IL 62705-0219 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service